Public Policy and Governance

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Julkinen toiminta ja hallinta

About the research group

The contemporary challenges faced by governments are characterised by complexity and uncertainty. Yet it is imperative for governments to carefully evaluate a range of potential scenarios and promptly respond to them in an effective way. The public sector must proactively anticipate future developments, and consistently find, evaluate, and adopt innovative solutions to capitalise on forthcoming prospects, all while mitigating risks by enhancing the resilience of their public systems. The research group on Public Policy and Governance (PPG) advances theoretical and empirical cutting-edge research in administrative sciences. We provide innovative perspectives and develop tools for leaders, managers, and decision-makers to enhance policy-making and governance in complex environments.

The versatile expertise of our group members combines managerial, regulatory, and spatial aspects of public policy and governance in our three focus areas:

  • Governance of complex systems
  • Public sector reforms and innovations
  • Co-creation of knowledge and societal value

Research in these interdisciplinary areas draws from the expertise of our discipline-based teams in public management, public law, regional studies and social and health management.

The focus areas are visible in internationally ambitious research initiatives, strong national brand in complexity research, and active high-quality publishing and versatile externally funded project portfolio.

We pursue strong research-based societal impact by working actively with our key stakeholders sharing our core values for innovative and sustainable public sector renewal, both in academia and in partner organisations locally, nationally and globally. 

Connected to continuous stakeholder interaction, we maintain active research-teaching nexus, through which we contribute to our education programmes (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programmes) in Administrative Sciences. The research group produces 4–6 new PhDs annually. 

Latest updates

Research projects

Project Duration Actors
Second Machine Age Knowledge Co-Creation Processes in Space and Time SMAK - Management, Public policy and governance, InnoLab
Anti-Corruption Network for the EU-Commission Public policy and governance, InnoLab
EU-Presidency Advice for the Portuguese EU-Presidency Public policy and governance, InnoLab
Ministerial Policy Advisors in the EU Public policy and governance, InnoLab
Integrity Management in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany Public policy and governance, InnoLab

Publications

Publication year Publication Authors
2025 Mitä tutkimus kertoo pandemiakriisin hallinnan ja johtamisen onnistumisesta? Uusikylä, Petri; Jalonen, Harri; Rantamäki, Aino; Niskanen, Ville-Pekka; Ahonen, Pertti
2025 Tiedustelu oikeusvaltiossa: kuka vahtii vahteja? Widlund, Joonas
2025 Viheliäisestä ilmiöstä ja ongelmakeskeisestä puheesta ammattilaisten rajoja ylittävään vuorovaikutukseen ja toimintaan Purhonen, Kirsi; Roine, Mira; Rossi, Paula; Toikkanen, Jaana
2025 Kohti hyvinvoivaa työelämää: Mielen hyvinvoinnin tukeminen osana opiskelua ja työhön siirtymistä Purhonen, Kirsi; Roine, Mira; Rossi, Paula
2025 Institutionalization of responsible research and innovation in universities seen through system archetypes Mariussen, Åge Olav; Virkkala, Seija; Mäenpää, Antti
2025 Possibilities for Democratic Equality? Participatory budgeting as a question of municipal resources Lehtonen, Pauliina; Kurkela, Kaisa; Jäntti, Anni; Sinervo, Lotta-Maria
2025 Palvelun arvo on hyötyä asiakkaan arjessa ja sen luominen edellyttää yhteistyötä Maijala, Salla; Kurkela, Kaisa; Kork, Anna; Rantamäki, Aino; Jalonen, Harri
2025 Merkitystä monella tasolla – kuinka ymmärtää seurantaloavustusten vaikuttavuus laajemmassa kontekstissa? Uusikylä, Petri; Härö, Mikko
2025 Vaikuttavaa missiolähtöistä innovaatiopolitiikkaa Kuusisto, Jari; Kalliomäki, Helka; Kunttu, Leena; Kalliokoski, Johanna
2025 Practicing Impactful Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy Kuusisto, Jari; Kalliomäki, Helka; Kunttu, Leena; Kalliokoski, Johanna

Research group leaders

Research group members

Aluetiede

Ejike Okonkwo

Grant-Funded Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
ejike.okonkwo [at] uwasa.fi

Olli Peltola

Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
olli.peltola [at] uwasa.fi

Justyna Pierzynska

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
justyna.pierzynska [at] uwasa.fi
Puhelin

Julius Repo

Doctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
julius.repo [at] uwasa.fi
Puhelin

Sampo Ruoppila

Professor of Practise
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
sampo.ruoppila [at] uwasa.fi

Hilkka Vihinen

Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Regional Studies
Sähköposti
hilkka.vihinen [at] uwasa.fi

Julkisjohtaminen

Lotta-Maria Sinervo

Associate Professor (tenure track)
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Sähköposti
lottamaria.sinervo [at] uwasa.fi
Puhelin

Hammad Syed

Doctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Sähköposti
hammad.u.syed [at] uwasa.fi
Puhelin

Olli Wuori

Adjunct Professor
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Management
Sähköposti
olli.wuori [at] uwasa.fi

Julkisoikeus

Kuva
Maija-Sofia Ulmanen

Maija-Sofia Ulmanen

Doctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
maija-sofia.ulmanen [at] uwasa.fi
Puhelin
Kuva
Joonas Widlund

Joonas Widlund

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
joonas.widlund [at] uwasa.fi
Puhelin

Riku Yli-Korpela

Teaching Assistant
University of Vaasa > School of Management > Public Law
Sähköposti
riku.yli-korpela [at] uwasa.fi

Doctoral students

Blogs by researchers and research projects